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October 9, 2009

ALDS2: Angels 4, Red Sox 1

Another four hits, another resounding loss. And the Red Sox will fly back to Boston in an 0-2 hole. Game 3 is on Sunday at noon.

Only four American League teams have come back from being down 0-2 in an LDS -- and two of those four are Red Sox teams (1999, 2003). So it's certainly possible, but this team will have to rouse itself from its offensive slumber to do so.

Beckett and Weaver had a hell of a pitchers duel going until the 7th-inning stretch. Only one player reached base in the first three innings. Both teams scored in the fourth: Jacoby Ellsbury tripled and scored on Victor Martinez's single; then Bobby Abreu singled, took third on Vladimir Guerrero's hit and scored on Kendry Morales's sacrifice fly.

Beckett began the seventh at only 75 pitches and having retired the previous eight batters. He fell behind the first two hitters 3-0, walking Guerrero (his only pass of the game), but battling back to retire Morales. With Juan Rivera at the plate, pinch-runner Howie Kendrick stole second. Kendrick stayed put as Rivera grounded hard to third, but he was able to score on Maicer Izturis's single into right-center, giving LA a 2-1 lead.

Billy Wagner had been up for awhile, but Terry Francona stayed with Beckett. Izturis stole second on the first pitch to Mike Napoli. Then Beckett plunked Napoli with a 2-2 curveball. It was time for a pitching change, but Playoff Tito was nowhere to be seen. Erick Aybar whacked a 2-1 pitch over Ellsbury's head in center for a two-run triple, bringing the curtain down on Beckett's performance.

In the ninth, Kevin Youkilis doubled with one out and Jason Bay walked with two outs, but Mike Lowell flew out to center to end the game. (Boston's other hit was a two-out single by Ellsbury in the eighth.)

In a best-of-5 series, every game is important. Down 0-2, needing to win three in a row, would be a tough task (especially if the bats remain AWOL). Tied 1-1 with the first two of three possible games at Fenway Park -- I can live with that. (Like I have a choice?)

There are no issues physically at all. Obviously last year was a little bit different. So as far as physically coming in (this year), it's a lot better. Last month it's been better than it was two months ago, so I'm just looking forward to going out there and doing what I'm supposed to do.

We had four singles and three errors. That isn't going to win too many ballgames. We need more offense.

The Red Sox were held without a run and without an extra-base hit only five times during the regular season.

Terry Francona "fell ill an hour before first pitch with food poisoning". Bad tacos for lunch, apparently. He missed the introductions and Brad Mills was told he might have to take charge, but Tito was there when the first pitch was thrown. Asked after the game about the umpiring ("What was your main complaint or beef there?"), Tito said: "Don't bring up the word beef, please."

Francona's regular cribbage opponent is now George Kottaras. "Pedey quit 'cause he stinks." ... David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia each were tested for performance-enhancing drugs after last night's game. No word if CB Bucknor was given an eye exam.

The New York Times says Chip Caray "is still prone to bad play calls, descriptive exaggerations and factual errors. ... [There is] a pattern of an announcer out of his element."

Times: Game 3 is set for Noon on Sunday. Game 4 will be at 8:30 on Monday, but would be moved to 7:30 if the Twins-Yankees series is finished. Game 5 in Anaheim is set for 9:30, but will be moved to 8:00 if there are no other games scheduled.

This might have come up in last night's game thread (wasn't lurking last night), but, was anyone else surprised that TBS chose Orsillo to do the play-by-play for a series that the Sox are playing in? If I recall, last year they had him calling the Rays-White Sox series. I definitely appreciate hearing the familiar voice and the (Sox) knowledge he brings to the booth. Maybe they're trying to super make up for the fact that Chip Caray is a train wreck in the booth.

was anyone else surprised that TBS chose Orsillo to do the play-by-play for a series that the Sox are playing in?

Are you sure he is given a choice?

I hated the broadcast last night. Seriously hated it. Since Don has to act neutral, IMO he goes too far in the other direction. And Martinez is just unbearable. I'm using MLB Audio for the rest of the series.

I would say probably not, but it's odd that they would assign our play-by-play guy to our series. He probably wasn't given a choice. I know he's a professional, blah blah blah... and TBS baseball coverage is pretty lousy.

On Oct. 8, 2009, Bucknor made two terrible calls against the Boston Red Sox during Game 1 of the American League Division Series. In between innings, he admitted, "not understanding why they didn't let Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder drive a car.""What's the big deal?" Bucknor said. "I call games just fine!"

***

"It is a little-known fact that Bucknor is the inventor of an umpire-specific, miniature "Magic 8 Ball" (e.g. "Signs point to safe") that he uses to call plays at first base. He possesses superhuman hand speed similar to quick-draw artists, enabling him to consult the ball and then conceal it again before making the call--without being picked up by most cameras. Bucknor is also prone misunderstanding the rules of baseball, saying "Wait, when the ball is in the glove and you touch a runner with the glove it's the same as actually touching him with the ball itself? Wow, I didn't know that."

1916 - Babe Ruth outpitches Sherry Smith as the Red Sox beat the Dodgers 2-1 in 14 innings (still the longest World Series game by innings).

1920 - Several hours before the start of Game 4 of the World Series, Brooklyn's Rube Marquard is arrested (on his 34th birthday!!!) when he tries to sell a ticket to an undercover cop for $350. He is later found guilty and fined a dollar and court costs ($3.80).

RS, that's pretty cool in principle. I've always felt like my connection is not good enough to make MLB.tv really enjoyable. Too many skips (and too often when the ball is between the mound and home on a tense AB.) Mosaic was a mess for me.

But if you had a T1 and a huge screen, that four-angle view would be pretty sweet.

I'm going back and forth to the TV so I put it back on the solo CF shot. But if I have downtime later (hopefully for the Sox game), I'll try to with 2 or 4 different angels up. The between innings is great, cameras panning around, infielders coming out to their positions.

with the hot corner feeds, i have the CF camera you see when the pitch is delivered. but that is it, it never changes, so teix's foul ball, all i saw was him running down the line, then turning back. i'm busy watching him and the fans for clues.

OK, Ish, though I can't right now. We are on the Cape with only one TV, and Harvey wants to see the end of the Yankee game obviously. I will have to wait and follow on the computer and wait for you all to update me as well.

nathan couldnt just close it out easy that woulda been nice to see mfy lose easy. twins still got a chance, but i'd rather cut my wrists than hear more shit about all the walk off wins of the mfy this year, be nice if twins can pull this out

that's the first one I've seen. Now why did that guy get shit for not bringing the guac and not anyone else at the party. What about all those people sitting 'round the dining room table who don't seem to give a shit?